French-language healthy eating guide supports seniors

COQUITLAM - A new French-language version of B.C.'s popular Healthy Eating for Seniors handbook is helping to support the health of B.C.'s French-speaking seniors and their families.

The easy-to-read handbook helps seniors make decisions about healthy eating and healthy lifestyles. It includes information on reading nutrition labels, reducing sodium intake, vitamin and mineral supplements and healthy eating choices, including how to eat if living with a chronic health challenge like high blood pressure or diabetes. The handbook also includes a variety of sample healthy recipes.

Copies of the handbook can be obtained by contacting the Health and Seniors Information Line at 250 952-1742 in Victoria or toll-free at 1 800 465-4911. The handbook is also available online at: www.seniorsbc.ca

The French-language version of the guide was created with support from the Canada-British Columbia Cooperation Agreement on Official Languages and the Seniors' Healthy Living Secretariat.

The Province recently invited seniors, families and stakeholders to help shape the implementation of a comprehensive action plan to ensure a more accessible, transparent and accountable approach to seniors' care. The plan contains specific deliverables to help seniors and their families navigate the health system, easily access information about care options and have a clear and simple way to register complaints and have their concerns addressed. Seniors are also an integral part of B.C.'s $68.7 million Healthy Families BC strategy, which provides British Columbians of all ages with tools and information on healthy eating, physical activity and creating healthier communities.

Quotes:

Michael de Jong, Minister of Health -

"As our recently released seniors' action plan demonstrates, we are committed to creating a variety of supports to improve the lives of our province's seniors. This new translation of the Healthy Eating for Seniors handbook helps support healthy aging by increasing access to healthy living information for B.C.'s French-speaking seniors."

John Les, Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier -

"B.C. has a diverse, multilingual population and the introduction of this guide reflects our commitment to ensuring families have access to the information and resources they need in a variety of languages."

Ron Cantelon, Parliamentary Secretary for Seniors to the Minister of Health -

"This easy-to-read handbook is great news for French-speaking seniors and their families. It is also available in English, Chinese and an online Punjabi version to provide information that helps seniors make decisions about healthy eating so they can stay as active and independent as possible."

Doris Brisebois, president, RésoSanté Colombie-Britannique -

"B.C.'s francophone community is vibrant and thriving and we are thrilled that our seniors now have access to healthy eating information in their own language. These guides provide seniors with a variety of useful information to help them maintain their health."

Quick Facts:

It is anticipated that by 2031 almost a quarter of the population - or more than 1.3 million British Columbians - will be over 65.

There are more than 290,000 French speakers in B.C. and the province B.C. is home to more than 40 francophone associations.

The Canada-BC Cooperation Agreement on Official Languages has improved access to programs and services for francophone British Columbians and enhanced the Province's capacity to deliver services in French.

Since 2002, the Province has proclaimed March 20 as B.C. Francophonie Day to recognize the contributions of B.C.'s francophone community.

Learn More:

To access the handbook online or for more information about services for B.C. seniors please visit: www.seniorsbc.ca